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Post by 1twister on Sept 15, 2008 9:27:32 GMT -5
Is it just me or are the participants in band getting less numerous? If the number of participants are going down, why and what can be done to improve the numbers?
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Post by Kount Klepto on Sept 15, 2008 21:00:07 GMT -5
Personally, I'm hoping that the addition of 6th grade band in Richmond County will help some. I think it's funny that the only 2 other bands we've seen so far these season are Anson and Purnell Swett. Two bands that are struggling and in worse shape than we are in.
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Post by 1twister on Sept 24, 2008 8:31:40 GMT -5
Richmond might want to consider eliminating the marching aspect and making it a pep band. Play more upbeat and current music. I honestly believe it would generate more participants.
Music selection is very important in getting future musicians. I wonder how many kids went home after the "theme from love story" series and said I want to be in the band!
My guess is zero.
And just to set the record straight I was a marching band member in junior high and high school.
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woody
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Post by woody on Oct 1, 2008 5:01:19 GMT -5
Bands in general are going down. It's just not that big in NC anymore.
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Post by physicgirl16 on Oct 1, 2008 19:31:10 GMT -5
Well I am a current member of Marching Band and I dont believe that we should make this a pep band. That is what Jazz band is for. Marching Band gives us an athletic point on our gpa. Also it gives us a chance to meet new people and have new experiences. Marching Band improves academics and social skills.
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Post by polarbear on Oct 2, 2008 14:09:45 GMT -5
our marching band is small but not bad. keep up the great work marching raiders!
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Post by 1twister on Oct 16, 2008 8:37:34 GMT -5
Marching Band gives us an athletic point on our gpa. Now there is something I never heard before.
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Post by cierraharden on Oct 21, 2008 11:22:50 GMT -5
Even though school band sizes are down, we must still go on! If poeple would learn not to talk bad about the band and give us a good word every once in a while, maybe our size would grow! It makes me mad when people who havn't even steped foot on the field to march sit there and talk about us as though we are the worst thing since shots! People just need to learn to keep there mouths off a subjects they know nothing about! Marching band was not met for students to just sit in the stands at games and play catchy music, it is called MRCHING band for a reason.
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woody
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Post by woody on Nov 26, 2008 6:53:35 GMT -5
Actually, after going over this thread, only one person on here has not been in the marching band before, so most people here do know what they are talking about.
With that being said, I don't think it should be a pep band either, but it still needs some work. Having a drum major that's trying to act like he's in one band when he's in another, wearing costumes to 71st, and playing the ESPN song 500 times a night would be good examples of bad ideas. You become the target of mocking by the younger generation. Why would they want to join an organization that's just going to get them laughed at? YOU ALL that are currently in the band are setting the example. You want it to grow, do something about it. Make yourselves respectable. It's not always about how well you perform at haltime.
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Post by 1twister on Dec 11, 2008 8:25:35 GMT -5
Woody thanks for a good explanation.
As a former member of a state champion marching band I see so many things that hurt this band, but the answer is always "don't say anything bad about our band". No criticism is allowed.
Well folks sometimes criticism can be contructive. If all anyone ever does is tell you how great you are then you'll believe it.
Music selection has been our biggest downfall for years. Going to games half the season out of uniform shows no pride what so ever.
The reason I suggested a pep band approach is because of the ability to concentrate on better music and thus attract more members. The members are not the ones who choose the music so I am not blaming them for the selection. That is strictly the band directors decision. I still shudder when I think of the "love story" year.
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tony
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Post by tony on Dec 23, 2008 13:10:36 GMT -5
Greetings Fellow Raiders,
The site looks very nice! I marched back in 98-2001 and let me tell you the "music" and "size" argument has been around for a very long time. I hated the fact that people ran to the concession stands when we performed, but there's nothing you can do about it. Something very simple has to be realized and you have to put aside your personal ideas and views for a second:
Look out into Raider Stadium when you're on the field, look at the crowd and the football team. When the game is over and you march back to the band room notice the type of music that is played on the stereos filling the parking lot...its nothing you just played!
Back when I marched I was in love with West Charlotte, EE Smith, Westover, and Goldsboro because they got their crowds hype as well as ours! The argument back then was we can't be a showband because 1.) White people can't dance....FALSE, you should look at the history of showbands Michigan, The Marching Illini, Ohio, FAMU, Southern University...they all have black and white members. 2.) Too hard to change over...FALSE, I remember back when Westover High School was corps style and they started to attend the FAMU Band Camp and within a year they were participating in corps style competitions as well as Battle of the Bands (showband competitions). 3.) Can't play the music...FALSE, how hard is it to play a popular song that you listen to on the radio...frankly I found it harder playing something I didn't like and/or never heard before. All things are possible in the band, it just takes discipline and leadership.
I'm not saying Richmond should change, just have an open mind. For example, Goldsboro will have a field show for competitions and another show (current music and dancing) for games. I currently attend Florida A&M University and I'm in the Marching 100, we've traveled the world, been on tv numerous times each year, two super bowl halftimes, the grammy's...I say all that not to boast but just to say you are an entertainer. Everytime you wear your school colors you are representing a legacy of great entertainers and usually those entertainers are great because they were popular. The Blues Brothers were popular in the late 70s early 80s so playing "Peter Gunn" and "Respect" back then was okay. Nowadays, T-Pain, Britney Spears, and the rest of the MTV lineup is what's happening. In order to make it you have to stay on top of that which is current and what the people want.
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Post by dcimonkey on Jan 6, 2009 21:56:42 GMT -5
I love this topic...... every year.
The enrollment numbers are due to the smaller enrollment numbers in middle school. You cannot have a big marching band without band students. If they aren't taking band in the middle schools, then they can't take band in high school. You cannot divine warm bodies to fill up spots on the field.
So the question becomes...why aren't kids taking band in middle school? Who knows. The last time I checked Rohanen had the largest band enrollment in the county, which is awesome considering they had 20 kids in band when I was just a wee pup. Rockingham and Hamlet are both down, numbers wise, and part of this stems from the economy and an overall stigma associated with being a "band geek".
Facts are facts, band students are more likely to graduate with a higher GPA, earn scholarships, and earn thousands more annually than those who do not participate in music classes. Why? who knows! But its a fact.
Kids want to be a part of something great. The first thing they see is the middle school program when they tour them in 5th grade. Do those schools put on any sort of recruiting trips where they play for these rising 5th graders? i'm sure they do.... what kind of music do they play for these kids? (hint: something popular and fun)
There are many kids in middle school bands who do not take band at the high school. I think this has more to do with the block scheduling at Richmond that has eliminated many students who need credits in a different "track" or other some other ridiculous academic slotting program that is pointless for high school kids.
The show band concept has been brought up before on numerous occasions, but yet again...where are those kids going to come from? It might recruit more kids way down the road, but you'll still have the same retention problems. Hoke County has converted to a show band and while enrollment slightly increased, word on the street is that a number of kids are quitting the band for various reasons. Mostly white kids too. So while Tony is correct, white kids can dance and can participate in show bands, however in many cases, white kids don't want to. There are always exceptions.
Hoke's demographics are such that they will survive this overhaul, but I don't think Richmond's demographics support a show band. Again, I could be wrong, but I just don't think it would fly. You also have to consider older caucausian community members who would have a freaking cow seeing young girls out there shakin' it on Friday night. I think if you took the dance girls uniforms from Westover this year and put them on the field at Raider Stadium, you'd have some old granny have a heart attack.
Onto the idea of the music....I'm all for playing the latest greatest hip-hop hits. I know my band plays a number of songs on the radio. We "GET DOWN" in the stands. .......in the stands!! On the field, my group will perform a non-boring, technically challenging show that will not only please the judges, but entertain the fans. You can entertain not only through music, but through visual design. I wrote all the drill for my band this season, and I felt some of our most exciting moments were when we coordinated the drill and music together to make an exciting moment. (e.g. a guard stepover, or a high velocity pass through)
You don't have to play some obscure wind band piece to be accepted by the judges at band competitions (at least not on the local level) Execute, execute, and execute! If you play well and move well, you can play Barney and Friends greatest hits and win.
I think Latin music is a great and easy way to keep the football crowd easily entertained while providing a challenging product for the kids to achieve. There is no rule though against playing entertaining, popular music at all.
Let me lastly say a good word about Mike Ward. The quality of Richmond's band has improved incredibly in the few years he's been there. The ensemble sound is great! For so very few kids on the field, it's very difficult to achieve a sound like thiers. Although I did not see the 2008 show from the "front" this year, I most definitely heard them and I was very impressed with how far they've come since he came on board in 2005. Give the man time, and if the numbers increase, Richmond's quality will only go up and once the trophies start rolling in, the kids will roll in as well.
Teacher turnover has hurt Richmond for years. The longest a band director has stayed at Richmond is 6 years. That is ridiculous! Imagine a football team switching coaches every few years.....you go into rebuilding .....RSH has been in a CONSTANT state of rebuilding. Hopefully Ward will stay for years and that will go away.
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Post by 1twister on Jan 7, 2009 11:35:24 GMT -5
Good post DCI. I have noticed some improvement. For the numbers to increase there has to be some pride instilled. Young people need to want to be in the band. Much of that comes from the music played, the dress, and performance of the band.
I still cringe when I hear them introduced as the "pride" of Richmond County and they're wearing mis-matched clothes, jeans & t-shirts, some shirt tails in, some out, etc. When they perform as representatives of the school they should be in uniform. Period! It is embarrassing to see them come to away ball games dressed as they do in the early season. Frankly the principal aught to refuse to allow them to represent the school dressed that way.
Never were we allowed to represent our school that we were not in complete uniform including a pre-performance inspection to verify shoes were polished, uniforms correct, etc.
I could be wrong, but I believe the young kids look at the band during the first performance or two and make up their mind as to whether they want to be a part of it or not. Way before the band dons their uniform.
As for volume and quality of sound I agree they have improved. Much better this year than in recent years and I too hope for them to continue to improve.
I'm sure my comments on here may have hurt some feelings. I didn't post them to hurt feelings, but to let some know that a lot of people feel the same as I. If it causes them to change for the better (ie wear uniforms from the start) then I will feel justified in making my comments.
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tony
New Member
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Post by tony on Jan 11, 2009 19:55:55 GMT -5
Very good point on demographics dcimonkey, but as for the granny in the stands ;D entertainment is entertainment and we've been asked to march in an asthma walk before (consisting of older white senior citizens) and as always they loved it. Also, the "band geek" thing I can understand but until outsiders are willing to donate the funds for travel (recruiting, competitions, lodging), supplies (instruments and uniforms) they really should keep the band geek idea to themselves. In times like these (economic wise) our lil village of Richmond County needs to stay on top of educating our youth...music being a part of that education.
Does Richmond still have Band Day? I know this used to be good for raising money and recruiting.
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Post by shakeemharrington on Jan 13, 2009 11:22:11 GMT -5
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